Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...

HandOverFist · 10-24-2013, 11:13 AM

Documented last night on our car and confirmed from another Class racer in KY...the new 12-bolt Pro gears coming from Richmond have the pinion distance stamped incorrectly on the pinion head. First clue will be when checking the distance the numbers will call for about .230 shim lol.

Look for packaging labeled "Made in Italy". Seems Richmond moved their operations to Italy and the workers are having problems converting from their metric system. My guess is this is going to be expensive for Richmond as the problem surely extends further than just the 12-bolt versions.

Ed Wright · 10-24-2013, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

Documented last night on our car and confirmed from another Class racer in KY...the new 12-bolt Pro gears coming from Richmond have the pinion distance stamped incorrectly on the pinion head. First clue will be when checking the distance the numbers will call for about .230 shim lol.

Look for packaging labeled "Made in Italy". Seems Richmond moved their operations to Italy and the workers are having problems converting from their metric system. My guess is this is going to be expensive for Richmond as the problem surely extends further than just the 12-bolt versions.

Wow! Going to do it the old fashioned way, using the pattern. Going to make set up go a little slower.

HandOverFist · 10-24-2013, 11:30 AM

My predictions are there are going to be a lot of "free" sets of gears flying out of Richmond shortly...major mistake...heads will roll.

1320racer · 10-24-2013, 01:51 PM

Richmond was bought out by Motive at least a year ago and manufacturing was moved over seas.

HandOverFist · 10-24-2013, 02:02 PM

The "Italian" stock just recently made it's debut...evidenced by the recent unavailability of gears through major vendors.

ss wannabee · 10-25-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Richmond was bought out by Motive at least a year ago and manufacturing was moved over seas.

Getting tired of these moves and out-sourcing....HEY Motive....bring gear production
back to the USA!....WANT a "made in USA" product...in my Chevrolet race car!

American JOBS at stake!

Alan Roehrich · 10-25-2013, 11:12 AM

For the vast majority of OE 12 bolt housings, start with a 0.035" shim on the pinion. Odds are, you'll be within 0.005" of where you need to be. If you're taking a similar gear out, use the shim from the previous pinion, and you'll be within spitting distance.

The numbers they give you are the opinions of the guy running the Gleason machine they test the gears on. What matters is the pattern.

And yeah, unfortunately, Richmond hasn't been great lately, and Motive buying them is quite unlikely to improve that.

SSDiv6 · 10-26-2013, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Getting tired of these moves and out-sourcing....HEY Motive....bring gear production
back to the USA!....WANT a "made in USA" product...in my Chevrolet race car!

American JOBS at stake!

Well...in addition to Motive gear, you will have to ask a lot of other companies to do so. The company that makes the gears for motive also a manufacturer for gears used in helicopter gear boxes built in the USA and they also make gears for the automotive OEM's.
If you have quality escapements in the automotive and aerospace industries that use AS9100 quality specs, you will have them too in aftermarket products.

ray sowers · 10-25-2013, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

Documented last night on our car and confirmed from another Class racer in KY...the new 12-bolt Pro gears coming from Richmond have the pinion distance stamped incorrectly on the pinion head. First clue will be when checking the distance the numbers will call for about .230 shim lol.

Look for packaging labeled "Made in Italy". Seems Richmond moved their operations to Italy and the workers are having problems converting from their metric system. My guess is this is going to be expensive for Richmond as the problem surely extends further than just the 12-bolt versions.

A few years ago I ran into the same problem with Richmond Pro gears, their gear cutting machine was setup wrong and I could not get the gear pattern anywhere right but
ran them one time. Called Richmond and talked with their engineer and he would send another set to Jeg's. Their pattern was dead on where it was supposed to be and are still running good some years later, I have the equipment and always do my own Ring and Pinion gears setup. Sorry to hear Richmond went offshore. BUMMER

Mike Taylor 3601 · 10-25-2013, 08:47 AM

Can figure pinion depth using master housing dimension.
Measure pinion head thickness -(where bearing sets against pinion to back of pinion,same place you check center distance from) then subtract pinion head thickness from master housing dimension,that will give pinion depth checking distance.
Can't remember 12 bolt master dimension off top of my head,but you can find easy on line or richmond tech line etc.
Mike Taylor 3601

10-24-2013, 11:13 AM	#1
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up... Documented last night on our car and confirmed from another Class racer in KY...the new 12-bolt Pro gears coming from Richmond have the pinion distance stamped incorrectly on the pinion head. First clue will be when checking the distance the numbers will call for about .230 shim lol. Look for packaging labeled "Made in Italy". Seems Richmond moved their operations to Italy and the workers are having problems converting from their metric system. My guess is this is going to be expensive for Richmond as the problem surely extends further than just the 12-bolt versions.

10-24-2013, 11:30 AM	#3
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up... My predictions are there are going to be a lot of "free" sets of gears flying out of Richmond shortly...major mistake...heads will roll.

10-24-2013, 01:51 PM	#4
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up... Richmond was bought out by Motive at least a year ago and manufacturing was moved over seas.

10-24-2013, 02:02 PM	#5
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up... The "Italian" stock just recently made it's debut...evidenced by the recent unavailability of gears through major vendors.

10-25-2013, 11:12 AM	#7
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,113 Likes: 1,571 Liked 1,826 Times in 414 Posts	Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up... For the vast majority of OE 12 bolt housings, start with a 0.035" shim on the pinion. Odds are, you'll be within 0.005" of where you need to be. If you're taking a similar gear out, use the shim from the previous pinion, and you'll be within spitting distance. The numbers they give you are the opinions of the guy running the Gleason machine they test the gears on. What matters is the pattern. And yeah, unfortunately, Richmond hasn't been great lately, and Motive buying them is quite unlikely to improve that. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

10-25-2013, 08:47 AM	#10
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,371 Likes: 353 Liked 306 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up... Can figure pinion depth using master housing dimension. Measure pinion head thickness -(where bearing sets against pinion to back of pinion,same place you check center distance from) then subtract pinion head thickness from master housing dimension,that will give pinion depth checking distance. Can't remember 12 bolt master dimension off top of my head,but you can find easy on line or richmond tech line etc. Mike Taylor 3601